More misery as Devizes Road is set to close again

9:00am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News By Matthew Edwards

Fresh roadworks in Devizes Road Buy this photo » Fresh roadworks in Devizes Road

BUSINESSES in Old Town are bracing themselves for a fortnight of disruption as more roadworks are set to start on Monday.

Drivers will be forced to find a different route when work improving traffic signals starts on Monday and the road will be completely closed for a week from March 11 for resurfacing.

Owners of businesses have urged shoppers to visit despite the disruption, but they are expecting trade to be hit.

It is the second time in six months the road has been closed. In October Thames Water had to work on a collapsed drain.

Then the Old Town Business and Professional Association were approached by a number of Old Town businesses affected by the work at the junction of Wood Street and Devizes Road in regard to compensation, and businesses have said this time could be worse.

Hadi Brooks, of Ray’s Ice Cream and The Cafe, said: “I expect it to have a much bigger impact for us because last time was during off season for us; now we pick up trade going into spring.

“We will still be open as usual and want people to come and pay us a visit.”

Mike Booth, of MTM Mobility Ltd, said that last time the road was shut it was as if the shop had closed down.

He said: “With our business our customers rely on being able to access us by the road, it is not like other businesses where people can park and walk to them.

“They are even closing off the loading bay because it would cost them more not to.

“When the road closed last time I think we lost about 75 per cent of our business.”

The work the council have planned is between Wood Street and just past Britannia Place.

A Swindon Council spokesman said: “We will be replacing the signal crossing and carrying out preparatory work for the resurfacing of Devizes Road from Monday and this is expected to last until next Friday.

“The road will remain open and temporary traffic lights will be in operation.

“On Monday, March 11, through to the following Friday, the resurfacing work will take place along an 80- metre stretch between Joiner Lane and beyond Britannia Place.

“The road will be closed and diversion signs will be in place.

“We have placed signs along the road to warn drivers of the forthcoming work and we wrote to local business several weeks ago.

“There will still be pedestrian access to shops along Devizes Road.”

Comments(10)

Arrowfield says...
9:38am Sat 2 Mar 13

What is wrong with the crossing?

The one on Newport Street, by the newsagents needs re setting. You could cross the road three times whilst the lights are red.

Stopping vehicles turning right out of Wood Street, right into Bradford Road and right onto Devizes Road from Bradford Road would be more useful.

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Empty Car Park says...
9:42am Sat 2 Mar 13

What is the point of replacing the signal crossing?

How does it justify crippling businesses in the current economic situation.

http://www.talkswind
on.org/index.php/top
ic,9221.msg90772/top
icseen.html#msg90772

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Tim Newroman says...
9:52am Sat 2 Mar 13

Does all seem a bit odd. There are two traffic light controlled crossings on Devizes Road - both of which appear to work perfectly well (although they're far too close together).

The road surface along Devizes Road is also in much better condition than many in Old Town.

I suppose the work does/will have to be done at some point, but surely during the school holidays would have made far more sense?

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stu2010 says...
10:34am Sat 2 Mar 13

I think it's because we're getting towards the end of the financial year and budgets need to be spent. Use it or lose it. And they wonder why the country has gone to the dogs

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Tim Newroman says...
11:55am Sat 2 Mar 13

stu2010 wrote:
I think it's because we're getting towards the end of the financial year and budgets need to be spent. Use it or lose it. And they wonder why the country has gone to the dogs
Ah, yes, of course. It's the same every year, loads of (largely) unecessary road works spring up all over the place in late February and throughout March.

My first 'proper' (if you can call it that) job was civil service and I'll never forget my manager coming round to everyone to ask for 'suggestions' for things to buy in order to spend the department's budget before the end of the financial year. Nothing's changed.

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dukeofM4 says...
2:16pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Why don't they do something radical like make Old Town just one big one-way system say driving up from Drove Rd, past the old Goddard, turn right at the Co-Op, pass the Steam Railway, turn right at the Royal Oak, and up Devizes turning right down Wood St. Making Old Town one big roundabout and keeping the traffic flowing rather than stop and go at every intersection (or in the opposite direction to keep things consistent).

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purplerose says...
10:27pm Sat 2 Mar 13

why don,t they repair all the hole,s in the road,s

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anotherimigrant says...
10:29pm Sat 2 Mar 13

dukeofM4 wrote:
Why don't they do something radical like make Old Town just one big one-way system say driving up from Drove Rd, past the old Goddard, turn right at the Co-Op, pass the Steam Railway, turn right at the Royal Oak, and up Devizes turning right down Wood St. Making Old Town one big roundabout and keeping the traffic flowing rather than stop and go at every intersection (or in the opposite direction to keep things consistent).
The reason it wont happen is because you mentioned it first.

Now the road traffic idiots will never do it.

If they don't think of it first, it isn't going to happen.

A perfect plan, RUINED.

Its obviously a good plan, also opening up all the roads in Swindon would help.

But dream on because it isn't going to happen

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Empty Car Park says...
1:05am Sun 3 Mar 13

dukeofM4 wrote:
Why don't they do something radical like make Old Town just one big one-way system say driving up from Drove Rd, past the old Goddard, turn right at the Co-Op, pass the Steam Railway, turn right at the Royal Oak, and up Devizes turning right down Wood St. Making Old Town one big roundabout and keeping the traffic flowing rather than stop and go at every intersection (or in the opposite direction to keep things consistent).
Because there will always be someone that wants to drive up Kingshill / Bath Road, turn right onto Devizes Road. (Opposing the flow of one way traffic) and head down Croft Hill.
Particularly people that want to drive to Wroughton, Avebury, Devizes, etc

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PJC says...
4:35pm Sun 3 Mar 13

The only thing about Old Town that has ever inconvenienced me has been having to turn left at the Wood Street/Devizes Road junction, but then, I have seen people ignoring it, But all of this is irrelevant, as I've given up driving. I hate it, it's too stressful and expensive unless you have to do it for your work...

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